Domoic acid, an environmental toxin, produces hippocampal damage and severe memory impairment.
Microinjections of domoic acid, a presumed shellfish toxin, into the hippocampal formation of rats produces degeneration of CA3 and CA1 pyramidal cells and dentate gyrus granule cells. We demonstrate that domoate-treated rats exhibit a long-lasting anterograde amnesia for spatial information in the Morris water task. This preparation provides a good model for examining neurotoxicity and the anterograde amnesic syndrome observed in humans following consumption of domoate-contaminated shellfish.
Sutherland
R J
RJ
Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Alta., Canada.
Hoesing
J M
JM
Whishaw
I Q
IQ
D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013028:Space Perception
D009498:Neurotoxins; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid